Flying With Firearms: Airline Rules, Regulations & ProLine Travel Cases

Whether you’re a competitive marksman, professional hunter or weekend enthusiast, flying with a firearm demands more than a ticket and a licence. Every airline has strict rules for how firearms and ammunition must be packed, declared and checked-in. Get it wrong and your gear—or your entire trip—could be grounded.

At BellGear we make the process easier with our ProLine Rifle and Gun Cases. Purpose-built for air travel, every ProLine model is:

• ATA 300 Certified – the recognised benchmark for airline-approved durability
• Lockable – accepts standard or TSA-style padlocks at multiple latch points
• Crush- and Impact-Resistant – tough polymer shells shrug off baggage-handler abuse
• Custom-Cut Foam – keeps rifles, shotguns or handguns firmly in place

Ammunition reminder: Airlines worldwide require ammunition to travel in a separate, secure, lockable container. Our matching ProLine Ammo Cases meet the same ATA 300 standard, letting you sail through check-in with confidence.

Airline-Specific Firearm Regulations

Disclaimer: Information below is accurate at the time of writing, but policies can change without notice. Always confirm the latest requirements directly with your airline before you fly.

FlySafair - FlySafair Rules and Regulations

Firearms and Ammunition (only applicable to Domestic Flights)

1. We will, subject to these terms and conditions, accept the carriage of certain firearms and ammunition for a fee that will be charged over and above the ticket price for your ticket. Fees are outlined in Appendix C.
2. The firearms and ammunition must be for sporting purposes only (rifles / shotguns) only; no handguns or military firearms will be transported by us.
3. In order to transport and check in such firearms and ammunition, you must be:
   a. 18 (eighteen) years of age or older.
   b. the legal owners of the firearms and ammunition being transported.
   c. in possession of valid and approved documentation, in your own name, including:
       i. Licences;
       ii. Import documentation where applicable.
4. You must present Firearms and ammunition for transportation in approved and secured firearm and ammunition cases (hard plastic or metal case) manufactured for the applicable firearms and ammunition. These cases must be locked at each end. A single firearms case may contain no more than three (3) firearms.
5. All appropriate legislation in terms of the Firearms Control Act of South Africa (Act 60 of 2000) must be adhered to.
6. Service booking and payment must be completed through the FlySafair website.

South African Airways - SAA Rules and Regulations

Flights within South Africa
Firearms may not travel as checked baggage and must be declared during check in to be processed at the Firearm Desk. Ammunition must be packed separately from firearms in an appropriate, secure and lockable case and checked-in at the Firearm Desk. All firearms and ammunition must be declared at the time of check-in. Firearms and ammunition in checked baggage will result in the baggage being rejected.

The following items are not classified as firearms or ammunition and can be packed as checked baggage without having to notify us:
• Toy guns and laser pistols
• Harpoon guns and spear guns
• Slingshots and catapults

Note: The above list is not recommended in checked baggage for travel however the customer can arrange for safe carriage at the firearm desk at a rate of R500 for Domestic and R800 for Regional/International. ACSA might reject the bag for toy guns and the airline will be called to assist. SAA will not provide delivery service in the event of this bag being delayed. Bows, cross bows and arrows are classified as weapons used for Sports and must therefore be processed via the firearm desk at a cost.

Booking Procedure
Customers that require to travel with a firearm must contact SAA Reservations to book the firearm.

Charges
A handling fee is charged for the carriage of firearms. Payment will only be accepted by debit card, credit card or cash at Ticket Sales. These firearms will be processed at the desk for safe carriage in the hold of the aircraft.
Note: A maximum of two firearms will be allowed per carrier case. An additional rate will be charged if two customers share a carrier case.

Rates per flight sector and per firearm
Domestic: R500 incl VAT (USD31)
Regional & International: R800 (USD52)

Ammunition Allowance
A maximum of 5 kg of securely packed ammunition per traveller is permitted for carriage as a separate piece of baggage. Screening authorities may delay baggage containing ammunition, if it is not declared at check-in and marked with an appropriate tag indicating it has already been inspected.

 

Lift - Lift Rules and Regulations

All firearm documentation and requests must be finalised at least 48 hours before departure. No walk-in requests will be accepted. All requests are subject to requirements being adhered to and upon receipt of valid documentation.

In order for us to confirm a booking that includes the transport of a firearm, you must complete our online Firearm Transport Form and provide the following information and documentation for each person travelling with a firearm after booking your flight online:

Copy of ID and Firearm License – no commercial licenses will be accepted
The number of firearms (a maximum of 2 per person)
The quantity in weight and calibre of ammunition (5 kg maximum per person)
The type of firearm(s) (Make/Model and Calibre)
Serial number(s)
Reason for transporting each firearm
Confirmation of a lockable hard case for each firearm
Confirmation of a separate lockable hard case for ammunition
Firearm License Number(s)
Acceptance of LIFT's Terms and Conditions
Failure to submit this form may result in your firearm transport request not being approved.

British Airways - British Airways Rules and Regulations

The following are prohibited for carriage on either your person or in your hand baggage:

Guns, firearms and other devices that discharge projectiles and devices capable, or appearing capable, of being used to cause serious injury by discharging a projectile, including:

Firearms of all types, such as pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns
Toy guns, replicas and imitation firearms capable of being mistaken for real weapons
Component parts of firearms, excluding telescopic sights
Compressed air and CO2 guns, such as pistols, pellet guns, rifles and ball bearing guns
Signal flare pistols and starter pistols
Bows, cross bows and arrows
Harpoon guns and spear guns
Slingshots and catapults

 

Emirates - Emirates Rules and Regulations

Sporting weapons and ammunition

Firearms designed for sporting purposes, such as target pistols and rifles, air guns, safari rifles, hunting rifles etc, may be carried as checked baggage on Emirates flights under the following conditions:

The firearm must be completely unloaded and, if possible, dismantled and packed inside a suitcase or standard gun case.
The carriage of any type of firearms, ammunition and explosives, including items containing explosives, must be approved by Emirates no less than three days before your flight. Please complete the firearms form (only available in English) in the contact us section of our Help Centre to start the approval process. Please allow extra time for public holidays and weekends in your country of residence and the UAE.
Ammunition must be securely stored in a strong, sealed box packed inside a suitcase and surrounded by other contents. The suitcase must not bear an ‘Explosive’ label.
The maximum gross weight of the ammunition carried by any single customer is 5 kg (11 lb). Customers travelling in groups must carry ammunition in their own separate bags, with no single bag carrying more than the 5 kg (11 lb) limit.

 

Qatar Airways - Qatar Rules and Regulations

Following conditions apply

Passengers may carry ammunition in their checked baggage on a Qatar Airways flight if it is declared to the airline at check in. The required licences and documentation for their ammunition must be provided to the appropriate local authorities in the States they are flying to and from.

Only ammunition classified as UN0012 and UN0014 are allowed in passenger baggage, in quantities not exceeding a gross weight of 5 kg per person.

 

SA Airlink - SA Airlink Rules and Regulations 

Firearms and Ammunition (Subject to arrangement with Airlink prior to departure)
Only Hunting Rifles, Hunting Handguns (used for the hunting of game), Hunting Shotguns and Sport Firearms will be transported as Checked baggage.

South African Laws prohibit the carriage of firearms and ammunition in checked baggage or cabin baggage of a passenger.

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Final Thoughts

Flying with firearms needn’t be stressful. Follow each airline’s rules and pack your gear in ATA 300-certified ProLine cases—plus a separate ProLine ammo case—to travel confidently and compliantly every time.

Explore the full ProLine range now ›